More than 70 per cent of families are financially âon the edgeâ, according to research published today.

Struggling families are on the brink of poverty and could face ruin if hit by further price increases or falls in their income, the study by parenting website Netmums found.

Increasing energy bills and the high cost of living is causing some parents to go without food so they provide for their children.

The survey of more than 2,000 mothers found one in five was regularly missing meals so their children could eat. Most have seen their situation worsen in the last year and have less money coming in than a year ago.

A third of those surveyed have also borrowed money from friends and family to keep afloat.

Turning to debt in an effort to cope with everyday bills is âbecoming the normâ, with a quarter of families using credit cards to live.

About five per cent of families regularly take out payday loans, which lend short-term cash at high rates of interest, and one in 100 has turned to loan sharks to stay afloat.

The poll also found that almost half of families have sold or pawned goods to make money to live.

The pressure of the increasing debt burden is causing about 16 per cent of those surveyed to seek treatment for stress-related illness.

Netmums founder Sally Russell said the nation was heading towards âcatastropheâ. She added: âItâs shocking that seven in ten families in the UK are living on the edge of existence â but itâs a crisis that needs exposing.

âMums shouldnât be missing meals to feed their children or turning to loan sharks in modern Britain.

âFamily finances are so strained that any more pressure will turn this personal crisis into a catastrophe for the nation.â

David Cameron visited the Netmumsâ Watford headquarters on Tuesday and spoke to mothers about theÂ financial pressures they were facing.

The Prime Minister said: âI met some local mums and had a good conversation about how it helps them with bills as the cost of living is a big issue.â

Last night Cathy Jamieson MP, Labourâs shadow economic secretary to the Treasury, said: âThis survey shows just how tough things are for millions of families.

âBut this out-of-touch government is making things worse, not better, for the squeezed middle. While the government is giving the banks a tax cut this year, the VAT rise has hit families hard â costing a couple with kids around Â£450 per year.â